Man Killed After Opening Fire in NY Courthouse with Shotgun

Court officers in upstate New York shot and killed a man who opened fire on them inside a courthouse on Wednesday.

The New York Times reports that 43-year-old Timothy Mulqueen was armed with a 12-gauge shotgun when he walked into the vestibule of the courthouse in Middletown at around 9am. He fired several shots. Court officers responded, killing Mulqueen.

“He had more rounds for the shotgun, and had he made it past the officers, who knows what mayhem might have ensued,” said David Bookstaver, a spokesman for the office in charge of New York’s local court system. “It appears at this point that the officers may have saved countless lives.”

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One of the officers suffered a graze wound to one of his arms. Two other officers are being treated for trauma.

Mulqueen was convicted last week of harassing the daughter of the town mayor. Mulqueen went to the home of Mayor Joseph DeStefano last August, and when his daughter told him her father was not home, Mulqueen became "agitated" and yelled at her.

He was convicted of harassment and fined $129. It's not clear if that is what led to Wednesday's shooting.